Chelsea legend Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink has advised Xabi Alonso to sign free agent John Stones, calling the England international a perfect addition to add experience to the squad. Alonso was unveiled as Liam Rosenior's permanent successor on Monday and immediately faced transfer questions.
Alonso's appointment and Chelsea's struggles
Chelsea finished in mid-table last season after a chaotic campaign that saw Enzo Maresca depart in January and Rosenior last barely four months. Despite the struggles and lack of European football, Chelsea enticed Alonso, one of Europe's most highly rated young coaches, to Stamford Bridge. The former Liverpool midfielder was given the title of manager and is expected to wield greater influence in identifying summer targets.
Hasselbaink's advice on John Stones
Stones is without a club after leaving Manchester City following a trophy-laden decade. 'I would love to see him go and get Stones, who is a free agent,' Hasselbaink told WhoScored. 'Everybody will say, “Oh, but he’s injured a lot.” I think this year he will be a very good buy for Chelsea because Chelsea doesn’t play in the Champions League or in Europe, so it’s from Saturday to Saturday. He will have more rest, and he brings a lot of experience as well. So he can at least play 30 matches.'
Granit Xhaka move and experience
Alonso drove Chelsea's bold move to sign Granit Xhaka earlier this month to add knowhow to a young team. Xhaka has pledged his future to Sunderland for now, but Hasselbaink backed adding more experience. Stones, a free agent, fits that need.
Liam Delap's struggles and future
Hasselbaink also discussed striker Liam Delap, who suffered a serious hamstring injury early in his Chelsea career after arriving from Ipswich last summer and failed to find form. 'He needs football,' said Hasselbaink. 'He cannot have another season like he had last season at Chelsea. And if that means he needs to go out on loan or whatsoever, he needs to do that because he is too young to sit on the bench. He needs to kickstart his career again, score goals, and get that feeling again because every time he played for Chelsea, it felt a little bit like he was up against it.'
Hasselbaink added that Delap can become a top-four club striker but needs games and confidence. 'Even though I think that he’s a very good player, and even though I think he can become a top-four club kind of striker, he needs games. He needs to get the confidence of the manager that says, “Don’t worry with the first or second, just go and play.” And I think Chelsea’s been in a space where they couldn’t give him five games in a row because they needed goals straight away, so that’s why they have been starting with Pedro. And that is, in a way, the problem at a big club: you don’t get the time. You’re not going to be given five games in a row, so he needs another year where he plays 30-odd matches and from there, build on his career again.'
